Press release -
Port of Gothenburg welcomes world's largest container ship
Early tomorrow morning she will be sighted passing the Vinga Lighthouse. As large as four football pitches, as high as the Gothia Towers Hotel and with a capacity of more than 18,000 containers, the world's largest container ship will dock at the Port of Gothenburg.
"We have the pleasure of welcoming Maersk Line's new Triple E class vessel to Gothenburg. This a very strong symbol of the growing trade between Sweden and Asia," says Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg Chief Executive.
Following detailed preparations and test runs on a simulator, the Port of Gothenburg is set to receive the new super post Panamax vessels. These vessels are so large that no port in North or South America can receive them and there are only a few in Europe and a number in Asia. Fairways that are sufficiently deep and wide are required along with the very largest of cranes.
"Thanks to focused, large-scale investment over the years, the Port of Gothenburg is capable of receiving vessels of this size," says Magnus Kårestedt.
New sister ships on the way
Maersk Mc-Kinney Möller, which is the name of the new ship, will operate tween Asia and Europe. She left the shipyard in South Korea in June and is currently on her maiden voyage. New sister ships of the same size are due to be built and Maersk Line aims to launch 20 vessels in this class within two years. Other leading shipping lines around the world have also placed orders for similar vessels.
Maersk Mc-Kinney Möller is 400 metres in length and has a beam of 59 metres. She has nine levels above deck and ten below. She can carry more than 18,000 containers which, if placed to end to end, would create a line 110 km long. Placed on top of each other, they would result in a 47 km high tower. The load capacity is 16 per cent greater than the largest vessels currently operating anywhere in the world.
"It is extremely positive for Swedish industry that the capacity on direct services between Sweden and Asia is increasing. If a company is to invest in Sweden it is vital to have good deep-sea shipping to other continents. This also requires major ports such as Gothenburg that can attract such lines," says Magnus Kårestedt.
The majority of the export containers to Asia contain paper, timber products, steel, industrial components and automotive parts. Imports mainly comprise all forms of consumer goods – electronics, clothes, furniture and food. There is also quite a high proportion of input goods for industry.
For further information, contact Cecilia Carlsson, Corporate Communications Manager, Port of Gothenburg, phone +46 031-368 75 45.
Fact file: route
Triple E will serve the following 13 ports: Gdansk (Poland) – Århus (Denmark) – Gothenburg – Bremerhaven (Germany) – Rotterdam (Netherlands) – Port Tangiers (Algeria) – Singapore – Yantian (China) - Hong Kong – Kwangyang (South Korea) – Ningbo (China) – Shanghai – Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia).
Categories
Fact file: Port of Gothenburg
The Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in the Nordic region with 11,000 visits by vessels each year. One-third of Swedish foreign trade passes through the Port of Gothenburg as well as 65 per cent of all container traffic.
The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden with the capacity to receive the world's largest container vessels and has the broadest range of shipping routes within and outside Europe. The 26 rail shuttles that depart each day mean that companies throughout Sweden and Norway have a direct, environmentally smart link to the largest port in the Nordic region. The Port of Gothenburg has terminals for oil, cars, ro-ro, containers and passengers.
